Collapsible box or crate



April 19, 1949. J. B. BANKS El AL 2,467,518

CQLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CRATE Fild Feb. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 avg/0mm .(Z B BQMS jl/Zzpaiebn 53.1 6 767" April 19, 1949- J. B. BANKS El AL 2,467,518

' COLLAPSIBLEBOX O R CRATE Filed Feb. 7-, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25f? I I i *5/17) nZa Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CRATE Application February 7, 1945, Serial No. 576,531

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a collapsible box or crate and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a receptacle of this kind which can be readily set up for use without tools and which, when collapsed, will occupy a relatively small space either in shipping or transportation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a receptacle of this kind wherein the boards comprised in the construction of the walls are disposed inwardly with respect to the wall posts.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a receptacle constructed in a manner wherein is had a considerable saving in material without in any way sacrificing the desired strength.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of this kind wherein the walls are so constructed and assembled that when the receptacle is filled and closed, it can be placed with end, side or bottom up with safety as the walls so coact as to assure effective support one for another.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved collapsible box or crate whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that our invention may be th better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a collapsible crate constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view showing the side and end Walls of the crate in folded relation.

Figure 5 is a detailed section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an exploded detail of one corner of the crate looking down upon the top thereof and showing the relation of an end wall, a side wall and a top wall.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the receptacle comprises the side walls S, the end walls E, a bottom wall B, and a top wall T. The two side walls S are substantially duplicate in construction and each comprises top and bottom rails I of predetermined dimensions and maintained in desired assembled spaced relation by the boards 2.

These boards 2 are arranged inwardly of the rails I and the ends of these boards 2 are secured 2 to the inner faces of the rails I by the headed members 3, preferably light nails, which are of such size as not to extend entirely through the rail when effectively applied.

The boards 2, as herein disclosed, are in the fashion of slats with adjacent boards spaced apart to allow for air circulation. It is believed to be obvious, however, that if preferred the adjacent boards 2 may be in close contact in order to provide a substantially solid wall.

It is to be stated that the reference to the boards 2 is to be construed as embracing the further idea of having a single panel of requisite dimensions for completing the wall.

. The opposite end portions of the rails I extend a distance beyond the end boards 2 andthe rails I are spaced apart a distance to allow the extended portions of these rails I to be substantially snugly received between the extended portions of the top and bottom rails 4 of the end walls E.

The rails 4 of each of the end walls are connected by the vertically disposed boards 5, herein disclosed as spaced slats, although, of course,

- these end walls may also be substantially solid if preferred, it only being required that the boards 2 or the like be at the inner side of the rails t when the walls A and E are extended and in assembly for use.

The extended portions of the rails I and l are provided therethrough with openings 6 and when the extended portions of the rails I and of the rails 4 are in overlapping relation, the pintles l are freely disposed therethrough whereby the walls S and E are pivotally connected.

As herein disclosed, the pintles l are in the form of cotter pins and upon removal of such pins at one corner of the receptacle, the walls S can be readily folded with one side wall S and an end wall E substantially aligned and the second side wall overlying said aligned end wall and with the second end wall overlying the first side wall, with the outer or free extensions of the rails 4 of said folded end Wall overlying the free extended end portions of the inwardly folded side wall S. After this folding has been accomplished, the removed cotter pins can then be inserted through the overlying extended portions of the rails I and 4, whereby the walls E and S will be effectively held in their folded or collapsed adjustment as shown in Figure 4.

The, bottom wall B and the top wall T, as herein comprised, are of substantially duplicate structure and each comprises end rails 8 connected and maintained in desired spaced relation 3 by the interposed boards 9, herein disclosed as spaced slats, although they may be otherwise arranged as hereinbefore stated with respect to the boards comprised in the construction of the side walls S and end walls E.

The rails 8 extend outwardly beyond the end boards 9 and when the walls S and E are properly extended, these rails 8 have close contact with the bottom extremities of the slats or boardsi of the end rails E and with said rails 8 underlying the adjacent extremities of the bottom rails l of the side members.

Each of the bottom rails I in its central portion is provided with three longitudinally spaced openings III which are continued through the adjacent extremities of the boards and which openings register with the three spaced openings II in an adjacent rail 8 of an applied bottom wall B.

Insertible preferably from without through these registering openings I0 and I I are the elongated bendable fingers I2 of a substantially M- shaped fastener F. The portions of these fingers I2 extending beyond the rail 8 are bent over, whereby is assured effective connection between an end wall E and the applied bottom wall B.

It is also to be noted that when the bottom wall B is applied, the end boards 8 thereof are closely positioned to the adjacent extremities of the boards 2 of the end Walls E. It is believed to be obvious that when the bottom wall B is applied, the receptacle is effectively held against collapsing.

The top wall T is constructed similarly to the bottom wall B and the rails 8 of the top wall T coact with the top rails 4 of the end walls E in the same manner as hereinbefore referred to with respect to the bottom wall B. A fastener F is engaged with the adjacent rails! and 8 in the same manner as hereinbefore stated with respect to the application of a fastener F to the bottom rails 4 and 8.

It is to be further noted that when the receptacle is in use, the boards of the bottom wall B and the top wall T are at the inner sides of the rails.

It is believed to be obvious that a receptacle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is one which can be manufactured with a decided saving in material without sacrificing strength and by having the walls including spaced slats, it is believed to be apparent that the contents of the receptacle, such as potatoes, will be effectively ventilated.

The top and bottom rails I of each of the side 4 walls S adjacent to the ends thereof have secured thereto the posts I5 bridging the space therebetween and which posts serve to materially strengthen the structure.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a collapsible box or crate constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted foruse by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

We claim:

A collapsible crate comprising four walls formingsides and ends and each including spaced, parallel top and bottom rails, pivot coupling means between adjacent rail ends, top and bottom walls each including two spaced transverse rails each lying in close parallel relation to an end wall rail, each two adjacent parallel rails of the top and bottom walls and the adjacent end walls having at least three parallel passages formed transversely therethrough, and a locking element connecting each two adjacent parallel rails and comprising a central relatively long loop portion passing through a passage from the outer end of the crate toward the transverse center thereof and having two laterally extending legs disposed along the outer sides of an end wall rail and each passing inwardly through a passage to the inner side of the inner one of the adjacent parallel rails, each of said lateral legs terminating in a hook at the inner side of the said inner one of the rails, the said loop having an eye at the inner side of the inner one of the parallel rails for the reception of a sealing element.

JOHN B. BANKS. NAPOLEON ST. PETER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,510 Bonta, Jr Sept. 21, 1897 1,077,834 Justen Nov. 4, 1913 1,176,023 Beehler Mar. 21, 19 6 1,723,293 Mielziner Aug. 6, 1929 2,014,543 Whiton Sept. 17, 1935 2,026,968 Ewell Jan. 7, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,898 France Sept. 11, 1909 (First addition to No. 370,621) 

